High Chair

Shopping for nursery furniture can be a real delight, and part of the fun of having a baby, as long as you are prepared beforehand for what you should be looking for.

Looking for a high chair online can be a great way to save money, as you can easily flit from site to site, tracking down the best offers. A lot of nursery furniture sites have a good photo gallery of available products, so that you can choose a style that suits you best. Also, some of these online businesses save overheads by not having showrooms, large offices or large numbers of staff, as their sales are done online, so they are able to pass the savings on to you- the customer.

Highchairs are a great way for your older baby or toddler to be able to join you at the table and somewhere safe and stable for him/her to eat, providing safety features are taken into account. However, it is not advisable to leave your child unattended in a high chair.

Below are some features to look for in a high chair:

• Make sure the chair is large enough if you are planning to use it for an extended period. Be aware, however, that the larger the highchair is, the more slippage room there is for a small baby. A booster cushion may be helpful here, but make sure it doesn't compromise your baby's secure stability in the chair.

• A good 5 point harness will help keep your child secure, in place, and help prevent falling or climbing out. Falls from high chairs can be the cause of serious injuries. Check that it is adjustable so that it can grow along with your child. The straps should be secure once done up, but easy for you to operate.

• The high chair should be of a strong, sturdy construction and lie within recommended weight range for your child's extended use. Legs should taper outwrds for stability. Make sure there are no sharp bits, or places little fingers (or anything else) could easily get caught or crushed.

• If the high chair legs have castors, make sure one set of legs have brakes- and use them!

• A good high chair should have arm rests or side framework, to stop the child from slipping out of the sides.

• It should also have a crotch strap or bar, to stop slipping out under.

• The chair should have a footrest, preferably adjustable, so as not to strain your child's legs, or put extra pressure on his thighs, which could result from the front of the seat if the feet are not supported.

• A removeable and adjustable height tray is useful. If the tray is removeable, the highchair should have a bar in place to prevent the child from falling forward once it is removed.

• If you have limited space, consider getting a foldable chair. However, make sure that it is secure or lockable once in position and is easy to operate.

• Think carefully before accepting the offer of a secondhand highchair. Make sure it has all the necessary safety features, and is still in robust condition. No rusting, frayed straps, cracks, breaks, sharp edges, loose bolts or screws that can't be tightened etc. Your little one's safety is not worth risking for the sake of saving a relatively small amount of money.
  

Happy Hunting for the Ideal High Chair for your Baby!